- Riders participating in the Tour de France Femmes were informed they would undergo additional clothing checks before Tuesday's stage, following reports of concerns from teams regarding the use of padded bras for aerodynamic advantage.
- Race organisers confirmed these inspections via a communique, specifically addressing claims that extra padding in bras could smooth airflow during the stage four time trial.
- The checks paid particular attention to Article 1.3.032 of the UCI regulations, which prohibits non-essential elements or clothing that could modify a rider's morphology for an unfair advantage.
- The UCI defines non-essential elements as anything not exclusively for clothing or protection, or not strictly necessary for the item's functionality.
- Meanwhile, Tadej Pogacar recently secured his fifth men's Tour de France title, equalling the record held by cycling legends, and has announced his intention to ride the Vuelta a España, aiming for a rare Grand Tour triple.
IN FULL
Padded bra row erupts with Tour de France Femmes riders to face extra clothing checks
